Although the tubes look almost identical, Clinicare’s has a slight golden iridescence that makes it look somewhat classier than that of 3 Minute Miracle. In addition, the made-in-Japan Clinicare is formulated for ‘dry damage on hair tips’, while the made-in-Thailand 3 Minute Miracle is meant for ‘normal to dry damaged hair’. Nonetheless, I was happy to see the latter and intrigued by it, hoping that it would be a more accessible version of the former.

The first One Wash Treatment tube I ever tried was actually a giveaway in a Japanese beauty magazine. I liked it so much, I bought a few of my own and used them a fair bit in the first half of 2008.

Sold only in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Clinicare is not available in Singapore. You can, however, purchase it through online sprees and from eBay or rely on kind friends who are visiting those countries (Clinicare can be easily found in the drugstores). I bought mine from the now-defunct Yahoo Auctions website and through a kind friend whose flight steward pal lugged it home for me! :)

According to the Taiwanese Pantene Clinicare website, One Wash Treatment is a single dose, rinse-type treatment with an effective rich and viscous formula that stimulates hair shaft regrowth. Containing amino acids, pro-vitamin complex and an organic chemical compound known as BT Mac (behentrimonium chloride), it locks in moisture, repairing and protecting the tresses as it completely seals every hair strand.

It is targeted at hair ends with accumulated damage and is apparently able to offer non-stop protection of every strand of hair.

To use One Wash Treatment:

1. Gently squeeze out excess water after moistening hair.
2. Apply the cream at midshaft down to the hair ends.
3. Let it rest on the hair for 3 to 5 minutes, allowing its reparative and protective powers to work as it permeates the hair.
4. Rinse well, washing out the treatment thoroughly.

It is recommended that you use up one tube, regardless of your hair length. This is not entirely necessary, in my opinion; one tube can be effective for more than one wash.

Clinicare One Wash Treatment comes in a box of ten tubes. Each box costs NT$329 in Taiwan, ¥1470 in Japan and HK$79.90 in Hong Kong (prices vary, depending on the retail store).

Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Treatment comes in a box of three tubes. In Singapore, it has an official retail price of S$9.50 but it can be found in neighbourhood shops like Spring Beauty, Venus or Pink Beauty (these three are all found in Toa Payoh Central), where a box costs S$8+. That said, it only costs around S$5.50 in Bangkok! ;)

From ingredients to wash method, a closer look at the 3 Minute Miracle website offers much of the same information as the Clinicare website, leading me to conclude that these two products are very similar…if not the same. The website also has a compelling description of how BT Mac works.

The one big difference I see between them, however, is that Clinicare is the result of a research collaboration with Wella. There is no mention of this with regard to 3 Minute Miracle.

I’m using both now to give them a fair test and should have my conclusions very soon. ;) In the meantime, you could read Beauty Fool’s review to see how the 3 Minute Miracle Treatment worked out for her!